The next heat of the John Birmingham Cup for new unaccompanied songs will be at Upton Folk Festival, Sunday 5th May at 3.30, in the back room of the Kings Head. Entry forms will be available from the Festival office. Please note, there is an entry fee of £5. The competition is a legacy of John Birmingham who was a regular at the Cumberland Arms in Newcastle. It is song competition rather than a singing competition and is for songs that can be sung in an informal setting such as a pub; unaccompanied, with or without a chorus, but with the ability to move the listeners. The heat winner will go on the the final at Whitby Folk Week, and the ultimate winner of the competition receives a cash prize, according to John's wishes.